Superplastic Behavior and Microstructural Evolution of GH4169

Abstract:

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Tensile testing was performed on fine-grained GH4169 superalloy sheet at elevated
temperatures (920°C~980°C) and at different initial strain rates (10-4~10-2s-1). The maximum
elongation obtained was 280%. By TEM, active dislocation movement was observed and compared at
different strain level and strain rate. Dynamic recovery and recrystallization was also found during
superplastic deformation that played an important role of softening. At last the superplastic
deformation mechanism of GH4169 alloy was discussed.

Abstract: Grain boundary properties are known to affect the intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) and irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking behavior of austenitic alloys in high temperature water. However, it is only recently that sufficient evidence has accumulated to show that the disposition of deformation in and near the grain boundary plays a key role in intergranular cracking. Grain boundaries that can transmit strain to adjacent grains can relieve stresses without undergoing localized deformation. Grain boundaries that cannot transmit strain will either experience high stresses or high strains. High stresses can lead to wedge-type cracking and sliding can lead to rupture of the protective oxide film. These processes are also applicable to irradiated materials in which the deformation can become highly localized in the form of dislocation channels and deformation twins. These deformation bands conduct tremendous amounts of strain to the grain boundaries. The capability of a boundary to transmit strain to a neighboring grain will determine its propensity for cracking, analogous to that in unirradiated metals. Thus, IGSCC in unirradiated materials and IASCC in irradiated materials are governed by the same local processes of stress and strain accommodation at the boundary.

Abstract: The interactions between edge dislocations and the grain boundary have been studied
by using quasicontinuum simulations. With an increase in the shear strain, dislocation pile-up is
created and local stress concentration occurs at the head of the pile-up. The relationship between
the stress concentration and the number of dislocations in the pile-up is discussed.

Abstract: By using a low frequency inverted torsion pendulum, the high temperature internal friction spectra of Al-0.013wt%Ce alloy subjected to deformation at different tensile rates was measured, and three peaks, the conventional grain boundary peak (P1), the bamboo peak (P2) and the soild solution peak (P3) were found. Increases of annealing temperature and deformation rate make P1 and P2 lower with P1 shifting to higher temperature and P2 to lower temperature. P3 was only found in the as-received samples. The dependence of P1 and P2 on grain size indicates that the two peaks are originated from the grain boundary sliding, and P3 may be associated with the diffusion of Ce atoms or other impurities at grain boundaries.

Abstract: A constitutive model is proposed for simulations of hot forming processes. Dominant mechanisms in hot forming including inter-granular deformation, grain boundary sliding and grain boundary diffusion are considered in the constitutive model. A Taylor type polycrystalline model is used to predict inter-granular deformation. Previous works on grain boundary sliding and grain boundary diffusion are extended to drive three dimensional macro stress-strain rate relationships for each mechanism. In these relationships, the effect of grain size is also taken into account. It is shown that for grain boundary diffusion, stress-strain rate relationship obeys the Prandtl-Reuss flow rule. The proposed model is used to simulate step strain rate tests and the results are compared with experimental data. It is concluded that the model can be used to predict flow stress for various grain sizes and strain rates. The proposed model can be directly used in simulation of hot forming processes and as an example the bulge forming process is simulated and the results are compared with experimental data.

Abstract: An earlier proposal is generalized to explain superplasticity in different classes of materials and grain size ranges. A definition of “superplasticity” as due to a unique physical mechanism, rather than in terms of extreme elongations and/ or strain rate sensitivity index, m, being more than or equal to 0.30 emerges.